It's been said that it's not the years in your life but the life in your years that matter. Helen Sue Burgess, age 92, had both. Born in 1925 in Check, VA, Sue traveled the world and was the 'adopted' mother for many young men and women. A trailblazing and adventurous woman, Sue had a private pilot's license in the 1940's at a time when many women didn't even drive. She drove a jeep in a munitions factory during WWII. An avid water skier, she was asked to be on a ski team in her 20's, but opted instead to start a family and focus on her children. Wanting to pass on her love of the sport, she astonished people by water skiing with her children when they were toddlers. As the years went by she added snow skiing, backpacking, camping, canoeing, and horses to her sports repertoire, all of which she did with her growing family. In the mid-1960's Sue returned to school, obtaining her Master's degree in Education from the University of Central Missouri. She excelled in graduate school while raising her children, fulfilling the responsibilities of a military officer's wife, and volunteering at church as the choir director. She worked for several years as a school counselor and English teacher before becoming the Dean of Women at Campbell University in Buies Creek, NC in 1974. After retiring in 1987 Helen Sue and Leon moved to Anderson, SC to fulfill their dream of retiring on a lake. In 1992 she spent a summer in China as a secret Baptist missionary under the guise of teaching English to young professionals. She stayed in touch with many of her Chinese students and sponsored some of them to come study in the United States. Her retirement years were spent enjoying travel and entertaining her large extended family on Lake Hartwell. She was an active member of New Prospect Baptist Church, singing in the choir and participating in the Prospectors Senior Adult program. Helen Sue Burgess was a deeply committed Christian who had a positive impact on those who knew her and will be sorely missed. She lived what she believed. She died peacefully at home June 2, 2018 after living with Alzheimer's for more than a decade. Like a good choir director, she took her last breath as her children sang the Doxology at her bedside. She was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Leon Burgess, a career Air Force officer. She is survived by her sister, Roberte Lee Francis of Orlando FL, her six children, Laura Stevens (Dan Callahan) of Hernando MS, Lucinda Carlson (Charley) of Midway KY, Merry Boyd (Bob) of Anderson SC, Melody Bock (John) of Plano, TX, Dean Burgess (Paige) of Sanford NC, and Claude Burgess (Jane) of Zionsville IN, 18 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. Services will be held on June 23, 2018 with visitation from 1-2:30 pm and the funeral at 3:00 pm at New Prospect Baptist Church in Anderson, SC. Memorial gifts may be sent to The Sue and Leon Burgess International Student Scholarship at Campbell University, P.O. Box 36, Buies Creek, NC 27506. A message of condolence may be sent by visiting www.mcdougaldfuneralhome.com. Events Visitation Saturday, June 23, 2018 1:00PM - 2:30PM New Prospect Baptist Church 2503 Whitehall Road Anderson, SC 29625 Phone: 864-225-1236 Memorial service Saturday, June 23, 2018 3:00PM New Prospect Baptist Church 2503 Whitehall Road Anderson, SC 29625 Phone: 864-225-1236